Search and Serve

The Riverton FamilySearch Library offers a one day Family History activity to supplement ward and multi-ward youth conferences.

The library youth conference activities are designed to help youth and their leaders recognize the Spirit of Elijah and learn how its influence can bless the lives of both the living and the dead through Family History and Temple Ordinance work.

Research workshops will provide instruction on the key elements of genealogical research to help youth with their individual family history responsibilities. Service workshops will be presented to explain opportunities that are available for youth to assist others in family history research. Each class will be followed with a hands-on activity to practice skills and procedures learned during the class presentations.

Invitation and Promise to Youth

Elder David A. Bednar

It is no coincidence that FamilySearch and other tools have come forth at a time when young people are so familiar with a wide range of information and communication technologies. Your fingers have been trained to text and to tweet to accelerate and advance the work of the Lord — not just to communicate quickly with your friends. The skills and aptitude evident among many young people today are a preparation to contribute to the work of salvation.

I invite the young people of the Church to learn about and experience the Spirit of Elijah. I encourage you to study, to search out your ancestors, and to prepare yourselves to perform proxy baptisms in the house of the Lord for your kindred dead. And I urge you to help other people identify their family histories.

As you respond in faith to this invitation, your hearts shall turn to the fathers. The promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will be implanted in your hearts. Your patriarchal blessing, with its declaration of lineage, will link you to these fathers and be more meaningful to you. Your love and gratitude for your ancestors will increase. Your testimony of and conversion to the Savior will become deep and abiding. And I promise you will be protected against the intensifying influence of the adversary. As you participate and love this holy work, you will be safeguarded in your youth and throughout your lives.

Questions

Schedule - 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Do Your Own Family History Work

Morning Schedule

Welcome and Introduction

9:00 - 9:25 a.m. - Conference RoomThe conference will begin with a short overview of the library’s resources and layout, an outline of the day’s activities and a few guidelines to follow.

Workshop

9:25 - 9:55 a.m. - Conference RoomOne of the primary elements of family history research is to determine what we already know about our families. This workshop will teach how to use new.familysearch.org to find family history and temple ordinance information that may already exist.

Activity

Workshop

11:15 - 11:45 a.m. - Conference RoomAfter determining what we already know about our families, the next step is to verify the information we have and to search for more records. This workshop will introduce resources and methods to search for documents containing family history information.

Lunch

11:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. - Cafeteria

Help Others Do Family History Work

Afternoon Schedule

Activity

12:30 - 1:40 p.m. - Library Computer LabThis follow-up exercise will provide an opportunity to do some research using the methods and resources introduced in the previous workshop.

Workshop

1:45 - 2:15 p.m. - Conference RoomOne of the best ways to give service to others is to help index the millions of digital records the Church has acquired over many decades. This workshop will help youth understand the concept behind FamilySearch Indexing and learn the process. In addition, an overview of other family history service based opportunities will be presented.

Activity

2:20 - 3:30 p.m. - Library Computer LabThis activity will give youth an opportunity to use FamilySearch Indexing online to enter data from digital images into searchable indexes. There will also be time to explore other service opportunities.

Closing Exercise

3:35 - 4:00 p.m. - Conference RoomThe day's activities will close with a short review of the workshops and exercises, and give youth leaders an opportunity to conclude with whatever they feel appropriate.